[U-Boot-Users] uploading OS over network instead of u-boot do wnloading it from a server.

[Brian S. Park]

Dear Wolfgang,

> > The advantage I see is this.
> > 1. You ship 1 less piece of software. Less number of application that 
> needs
> > to be installed/started is always better, IMHO, when it comes to support.
>
>Don't you have to ship a (proprietary?) upload client instead of  the
>(standard) TFTP server?

It could be integrated to our PC side application which can upload it the 
first time it connects to the target. Integrating TFTP server to our 
application would require it to start before the user powering up the target.


> > 2. It makes the network configuration a bit simpler. If you do not have a
> > dedicated TFTP server, you must use serial console to setup the  server IP
> > before you can boot if you change the tftp server. Users only have to 
> worry
> > about 1 IP instead of 2 when setting up our product. Since large number of
> > our users are not very network savvy, things like this make a difference
> > when it comes to support.
>
>As mentioned before, the TFTP server which is  used  for  example  by
>Abatron does not require any special setup on the host.
>
>In any case you will have to setup both the network interfaces on the
>host and the target.

With TFTP client approach, I need to set the serverip environmental 
variable to IP of PC with the TFTP server. If I move the controller to 
another room, and found out that the PC with TFTP server is not powered up, 
I need to either change the serverip variable to the new PC I intended to 
use or go back to the other room and power up the PC. :)

I think it's easiest for the user and the developer if the firmware is 
entirely stored on the flash. If we can upload the OS, we can make it work 
as if the firmware is on the target (i.e. hide TFTP stuff from the user).

> > I have no idea how complicated it will be to implement server feature.
>
>It is not complicated. But IMHO not worth the effort.

I always appreciate your comments and opinion.

Thank you.

Brian


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Brian S. Park  brian at corelis.com  (562) 926-6727 x143
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